Do you ever get the 'Imp of the perverse'?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

It's where you suddenly get the urge to do something bad, but would never actually dream of doing it. For example, driving down a busy road and suddenly getting the urge to swerve across into oncoming traffic. Or getting the urge to push someone down the stairs, or mow people down at a crossing etc.

Oh yes, and I love the name you call it. I sometimes want to shout ‘fuck off’ in the middle of important meetings for no reason whatsoever

hahaha!!! Yes, this. Absolutely.

I'm a teacher. I am endlessly patient with my children, always smiling and generally calm. Same with colleagues in interminable meetings about the latest bollocks initiative. But in my head I am often saying 'Oh, do just fuck off...'

It's small pets for me...used to have a hamster and sometimes the thought to just squish it entered my head and was pushed away sharpish.

Yes also to throwing stuff / DC / myself off bridges or high buildings.

And this thread reminds me of this...

Oh theluckiest thanks for that !

How do people not let the serious ones bother them though?

The ending your life one really freaks me out I'll be chilling out just playing with the kids and see a window and be like ooh what if you jump out and get like this weird urge to climb out the window it goes after a whilst of not being near the window, but at first it didn't bother me and neither do the other ones like opening the car door whilst driving, but this one my god it freaks me out and pops up in my head so many times a day each time leaving me with what if that happens for real?
What if I just do that? I read somewhere that when you place importance on a thought and keep thinking it, it sticks around in your mind where as if you shake them off they don't. But I'd like this one to sod off as it makes me feel down as it's so horrible

It's also common as well all of these I've read something like 98% of people experience intrusive thoughts in their life times our brains are weird

anita I had counselling with a CBT approach to learn how to manage these kinds of thoughts. When they ramp up I know it’s a sign of my increased stress and I need to take action in areas of my life where I’m struggling.

@FaithInfinity thank you for that I will speak to the therapist again this week do they ever go then? It's been about a year now

I would say mine have eased. I’m not sure they’ll ever go completely, I have ASD and am an anxious person but I’ve learned to deal with them. Now when I get them I’m able to say ‘Oh an invasive thought’. That must be because I’m stressed about x’. I acknowledge it for what it is but don’t put too much value on it.

Yup I’ve had these for years. I do have anxiety/OCD and sometimes they really bother me but other times they are quite amusing.

Recent one was an urge to reach over and grab the wheel or pull up the handbrake while DH was driving on the motorway I don’t actually want to of course, but it’s a sort of overwhelming urge to do it followed swiftly by anxiety about losing control and doing it!

When I was a child I'd get the urge to put my hand in the chip pan or touch the hot iron.

Yes all the time. I literally invisage booting my MIL in the chest across the room.